told me what else to write. So next day I made a fair copy, and, having shown it her, it was put in an envelope which I directed as she read out and spelled to me, and then she put a stamp on it, and I went out and posted it.
Mr. Blake didn't come to examine us this term: another gentleman did, Mr. Saunders, a friend of the Reverend's, who'd been at Oxford with him. But the first day of the holidays I had a letter from Mr. Blake, and he said that he was sorry he hadn't written to me before; he had often thought about it, but he had such a great deal to do that he found it very hard to write to anyone. Perhaps when I had grown up, and had a great deal to do, I should find it the same. But what he was sorriest about was, that he was going away from Glastonbury to another school, Penhurst, and so we should not see one another there as he had hoped, and he hoped I had hoped, we should; but I would perhaps find when I got there that I was not quite a stranger, but that there was at least one fellow who would take an interest in me and help me, as much as it was good that I should be helped. And I was to be sure and write to him whenever I liked, for he would always be glad to hear from me. I thought it was a very kind letter and it almost made me cry, that about being sure to write to him whenever I liked, for he would always be glad to hear from me. I hadn't known till then that I was going to Glastonbury, but, when I asked the Reverend if I was, he said, Yes, in another two years or so, perhaps.—But I didn't write to Mr. Blake: I didn't like to, somehow.
In the midsummer term I was allowed to go to the Greenwich baths in the early mornings twice a week with the fellows that went. Langholm, a big fellow of eighteen who'd been at a public school, promised the Reverend he'd look after me and teach me to swim. So he did. And I soon learnt. And he said I was the pluckiest little devil he ever saw in his life. I liked him to say that.
In the middle of the next midsummer term I had a letter from Colonel James. (He used only to write to me once a year, about Christmas.)—He told me that I was going to Glastonbury next term, and a lot of stuff
